The Ultimate Guide to Eloping in London
How to elope in London?
Welcome! We are The Harphams; photographers and lovers of adventure & romance. We want to share our knowledge and experiences of the surprisingly romantic city of London!
What is an elopement?
First of all you might be asking what ‘Eloping in London’ actually means. Traditionally ‘eloping’ was to run-away and get married in secret, that’s not the case anymore, eloping is deciding to have a more meaningful and authentic wedding experience focused more on you and your partner. An eloping couple may choose to get married alone or have a select few guests join them. The day is all about you and how you choose to spend it. If you’ve chosen to ditch the long guest list to give you more budget to have an experience with your partner then eloping in London could be what you’re looking for.
So why London?
London is such a diverse city, there’s literally something for everyone. Immersed in so many different cultures you could feel like you’ve travelled the world in one day. With so much to see and do you could have an elopement day that’s truly personal and as unique as you are. When you think of the most romantic cities in the world, London might not be the first that pops into your head but we’re here to show you the most romantic places this city has to offer.
We’ll guide you through the steps of creating your dream London elopement day.
Step one: When?
England’s notorious for having unpredictable weather and London has a climate of its own. We could have downpours in June and heatwaves in October. There’s no guarantee you’ll get good weather no matter what date you pick. Of course the nearer the date becomes the easier it will be to prepare for what the weather might do, even if it rains you can still have a fantastic day and we can still create amazing photos. We’ve broken down the seasons below to help you decide which might be the right one for you:
Autumn
(September - November) is our personal favourite time for weddings and elopements. Technically off-peak for weddings you might find some venues and vendors have more availability and may even offer discounted prices. It is also off-peak for tourists meaning the city isn’t as busy as it is in the summer. The weather is usually still quite mild and with the sun being lower in the sky we get some magical sunlight in the mornings and evenings which is amazing for your photos.
Winter
(December - February) weddings and elopements are beautiful. A lot of the points from above also apply here, especially the magical light but it is a lot colder during the winter months. The city springs back to life at Christmas time with wonderful decorations and amazing markets. Valentines is also an incredibly romantic time of year in London.
Spring
(March-May) the weather is getting milder again, we sometimes get heatwaves in April and May but again there is no guarantee with the weather. The best thing about spring time is the colour of all the trees, blossoms and flowers. London has some beautiful parks that burst into life in the springtime.
Summer
(June - August) is your best chance at getting good weather although in the city it can sometimes be too hot. The city is also at its busiest with tourists and school holidays. These months are the busiest for the wedding industry too. We’d personally avoid these months for eloping in London but if you love the hustle and bustle, and want that hot weather then this is the best season for it.
Step two: Where?
There are so many different options for picking a venue, currently in England to get legally married you have to have your ceremony at a registered building. Here are some examples of venues where you can legally get married:
Town Halls
London has plenty of stunning town halls to choose from, they can vary in price, we’ve found a lot of them offer cheaper prices for weekday ceremonies
Plant lovers
If you love being in the heart of a city but also surrounded by plants and nature then these venues will be perfect for you.
With a view
why not read your vows up in the sky overlooking the world's most iconic skyline. Feel on top of the world in all senses of the phrase!
Iconic London
Something a little different but still screams London wedding
If your dream venue isn’t licensed for legal wedding ceremonies, don't worry, you can always sign the legal stuff another time and have a symbolic ceremony with a celebrant or even a friend (this is how we got married!) Then you can have your ceremony wherever you want!
And then what do you do after the ceremony?
You’ve got a whole city to explore, amazing markets, colourful streets, romantic restaurants, magical theatres and beautiful parks.
When booking your elopement with us we help curate your perfect elopement based on you and your relationship, we get to know you through our questionnaire then we can send you a personally curated plan, venue and vendor recommendation list. Keep going through this blog to see some examples of what your elopement day could look like.
Where to stay and transport:
If you are staying in London for a few nights there are no end of romantic hotels to stay at if you fancy splashing out a bit but we would recommend considering an airbnb apartment as we find these tend to be a little cheaper for more than 2-3 nights.
London's transport network is excellent and very easy to use as you are able to tap your debit card on the tubes, trains and buses. We recommend downloading the ‘citymapper’ app which shows you the quickest or cheapest way to get around. If public transport isn’t your style you can use uber, private hire cars or simply hail a cab. If you’re travelling from abroad there are easy to use train links to London from each city airport.
Step three: How? - The legal stuff
To legally marry in the UK first you must ‘give notice of marriage’ at least 29 days before your ceremony and then get married within the year of giving notice. Read more on giving notice here but it basically entails the following:
A fee of around £35 per person
Make an appointment with a local register office
The details of the final venue or location for your ceremony must be ready
Documentation required includes a valid passport, proof of your address and of any name changes or previous marriages.
To be legally married you are required to sign the paperwork at a registry office or licensed venue. You must be over the age of 16 and have two witnesses (we’re happy to be witnesses if you have no guests.)
Phone image of us being witnesses!
For more information on legally marrying in the UK as a UK citizen click here.
If you or your partner are from outside the UK you will need to apply for a marriage visa, click here for more information.
How Much?
In the UK the cost of hiring a room in a registry office starts from £57 (weekday/small room cost) for a standard ceremony. We’ve found most London registry office rooms are around £500-£700. The average wedding photographer in the UK is around £1500, like us some will offer discounts for smaller or weekday weddings. So after the ceremony and photography costs, the rest of the cost is down to how you want to spend your day. Considering the average UK wedding is somewhere between £20k-£30k you can put your budget towards an incredible experience and honeymoon. Imagine eloping in London and spending the weekend exploring the city and then hoping on the Eurostar to start honeymooning in Paris and around Europe, so romantic!
Step four: What?
So what does a London elopement day look like? Well, it could look like anything you want it to but here are a few examples of what you could do!
You could start the morning slow at your hotel or airbnb and get ready together before heading to your ceremony. Or if you wanted to get some stunning sunrise portraits around the city before it wakes you could then go for champagne breakfast before your ceremony.
Your ceremony - whether your ceremony is at a town hall or up in a skyscraper writing your own vows always makes wedding ceremonies just that little bit more special and personal.
Enjoy an activity and maybe tick something off the bucket list whether it's; a meal at The Shard, hiring a private pod on the London Eye, take a stroll down Portobello Road, have a helicopter tour of the city, try different cuisines at Borough Market, have a private tour at your favourite London museum, get a private box at the theatre, go boating in Regents Park, go for tapas and sangria while watching flamenco dancers, watch the sunset from Primrose Hill, the possibilities are literally endless.
After chatting to you about what you envision for your elopement day we will better understand your wants and needs. Once you’ve booked us as your photographers we’re here for you and happy to help you plan the rest of your dream elopement.
